Recreational Facilities
Dotted with crystal-clear lakes, ponds, rivers, and brooks,
the region offers the kind of fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation for which
Maine is famous. Other outdoor activities include a day outing in one of our
scenic camping areas, catching a quick swim at a public beach or pool facility,
or enjoying acres of lush greens of the area’s seven scenic golf courses and
country clubs. In the winter season, Androscoggin County offers cross-country
skiers perfect terrain and scenery for hours of enjoyment. Ice fishing is also
allowed on several area ponds and lakes. There are also two indoor ice skating
facilities located in Lewiston and Auburn, as well as many outdoor rinks and
ponds for your skating enjoyment.
Androscoggin Valley Council of
Governments
125 Manley Road, Auburn, ME 04210
Chuck Knox • E-mail: cknoxarwc@aol.com
Ferg Lea • 207-783-9186 • www.androscogginriver.org
Once the primary
resource for the development of Androscoggin County, the river is now a major
tourist attraction featuring boat launches, fishing areas, canals and dams, and
corridors of greenways and extensive public lands for hiking, picnicking, and
other outdoor activities along its shores in Androscoggin County.
The Cities of
Lewiston and Auburn have recently developed areas along the river that
complement their downtown improvements. Lewiston continues to improve Railroad
Park which features a river walk that connects to a new river walk and plaza
along the Auburn shore via a rebuilt railroad bridge crossing the river. The
area is the site of the annual Great Falls Balloon Festival. P
Auburn Municipal Beach
Lake Auburn Outlet, Route 4,
Auburn, ME 04210
Doug Beck • 207-784-0191
Central Maine’s
best kept secret - Auburn Municipal Beach - is open 7 days a week, 10:00 a.m. to
7:00 p.m., from mid-June to mid-August. Hidden
behind a wall of evergreens, this grand park is the outlet to Lake Auburn, the
only part of the lake where swimming is allowed and indeed encouraged.
To get to the
beach, go north on Route 4 and turn right onto Fair Street, just across from the
boat launch.
In addition to its
waterfront activities of swimming and a slide into the water, the area features
playground equipment for the little ones, an outdoor basketball court,
volleyball courts, an open area for field games like soccer and Frisbee, picnic
tables, barbecue grills, and parking. A concession stand, restrooms, and
bathhouses are provided on site for your convenience. Certified lifeguards are
on duty during regular hours. G P
$
Beaver Park
Pinewoods Road, Lisbon, ME
04250
Verla Brooks, Park Ranger • 207-353-9075
Beaver Park,
located off Cotton Road in Lisbon, is a 337-acre wooded property with three
ponds, which is managed as a family day use park and a tree farm. The park
provides a place where visitors can experience a sense of nature throughout the
four seasons with outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, cross-country
skiing, picnicking, and swimming. A new addition is a group picnic shelter
located at the Middle Pond area. The Park does not staff a lifeguard; thus,
parents are encouraged to supervise their children. The park also has a
seven-acre field with two regulation softball diamonds and a one-mile fitness
trail. Beaver Park is open from
sunrise to sunset year-round. The daily fees are $1.00 per person for residents
and $3.00 per person for non-residents. Yearly family passes may be purchased
for $15.00 per family for Lisbon residents and $30.00 per family for non-Lisbon
residents at the park entrance. P $
College Street Driving Range
&
Miniature Golf
601 College Street, Lewiston,
ME 04240
Ray & Rachel Cote • 207-786-7818
College Street
Driving Range has a panoramic view and includes 25 comfortable wide mat
stations, 25 grass tees plus 3 target greens. Golf instructions, swing analysis,
custom-made clubs, and repair onsite are offered. The beautiful 18-hole
miniature golf course features a waterfall, streams, and water hazards—an
enjoyable challenge for all ages. Lighted for night play, the range is
conveniently located 2 miles from downtown Lewiston
and 1 mile from the Bates College campus. P $
Fox Ridge Golf Club
550 Penley Corner Road, Auburn,
ME 04210
207-777-GOLF • www.FoxRidgeGolfClub.com
New
in 2001, Fox Ridge Golf Club has quickly been identified as one of the state’s
very best championship golf courses. Rolling hills and century-old stone walls
lead to island greens and stone bridges. Four sets of tees allow a variety of
challenges. There were several championships played at Fox Ridge Golf Club,
which included the SMWGA, WSMGA, and the Maine Seniors. Open to the public, the
complete facility includes clubhouse, pro shop, driving range, and grill room.
Golf lessons, clinics, special group packages and new membership categories are
available for 2003. P $
Historical Walking Tour
Androscoggin County Chamber of
Commerce
179 Lisbon Street, Lewiston, ME 04240
• 207-783-2249
www.androscoggincounty.com
The Cities of
Lewiston and Auburn have a rich history dominated by the Androscoggin River and
the power it generates. This historical walking tour will lead you through a
history and heritage that are based on the determination, labor, and imagination
of two cities and the people who built them. P
Ingersoll Arena
Auburn
Parks & Recreation Department
Pettengill Park, Auburn, ME
04210 • Peter Bushway •
207-784-0191
The Ingersoll
Arena was constructed during 1993 by the city of Auburn, business and civic
organizations, and individual contributions and voluntary labor. Originally
known as the Pettengill Arena, the facility was renamed in 1999 in honor of
Norris E. Ingersoll, for his more than three decades of service to the City of
Auburn as the Director of the Parks & Recreation Department.
Since
that time, the arena has served thousands of young people and adults for public
skating, skating instruction, and hockey. The
arena operates approximately six months a year from early October to mid-March.
The management of the arena, by administration and parks division staff, enables
the department to
provide ice time at below average costs to the citizens of Auburn. P
$
The Inn at Poland Spring & Golf Club
41 Ricker Road, Poland Spring,
ME 04274
Cyndi Robbins • 207-998-4351
A championship
18-hole golf course is the center of this beautiful complex, which also features
tennis, weekend and evening entertainment, and some of the most spectacular
views in Androscoggin County. The Donald Ross-designed golf course was built in
the early 1900s and has hosted many local and regional tournaments. P
$
Lost Valley, Inc.
Lost Valley Road, Auburn, ME
04210
Connie King • 207-784-1561 • www.lostvalleyski.com
Featured
in SKI MAGAZINE as a gem of a Recreational Area in the October 2002 issue, Lost
Valley Ski Area is year-round experience you simply must try! “Flexible
Ticketing” has been an innovative trend at this local ski area. Lost
Valley’s tried-and-true success has been built on the large number of
organized programs for juniors and adults, both daytime and evenings. Lost
Valley’s 40-year rich history of snowmaking allows 100% top to bottom snow
coverage, whether mother nature assists or not. Here is a classic family ski
area offering programs and facilities to make spending time as a family or just
spending time with friends safe, easy, and fun! The Olympic skier Julie Parisien
created the The Julie Parisien Jr. Racing Program, which provides any young
skier a vision of their own Olympic experience. Not only is Lost Valley Ski Area
Maine’s Best Kept Secret for winter activities, Lost Valley is renown for its
banquet and conference facilities. Ask for Connie to arrange your next event at
this lovely country facility. Paintball and mountain biking complete the
year-round activities offered at this quaint local resort. With its many
upgrades annually, including more slope space and features in the Terrain Park,
Lost Valley is sure to provide you and yours a most enjoyable experience! P
$
Martindale Country Club
Beech Hill Road, PO Box 1036, Auburn,
ME 04211-1036
Mike Williams • 207-782-1107
Martindale
is a private club, and as such, the golf course is available only to members and
their guests. However, the clubhouse offers both a private dining/lounge area
for its members and an elegantly appointed function room for public events, such
as wedding receptions, anniversaries, class reunions, proms, and business
groups. Martindale is one of the most popular locations for social events in
Lewiston/Auburn and surrounding areas.
When
you arrive, you will be in awe of the beauty of the sculpted grounds. The
clubhouse has an understated elegance that affords a warm and relaxed
atmosphere. From the upstairs foyer and function dining room, you will be able
to overlook both sides of the golf course. A roomy deck area adjoins the
function room.
The
staff at Martindale will assure you the finest food and service along with a
friendly and warm atmosphere. $
Mount Apatite Park
Auburn Parks & Recreation
Department
Pettengill Park, Auburn, ME 04210 • Doug Beck • 207-784-0191
Mount Apatite Park
is a 325-acre wooded park located in the western portion of the city.
The park offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities not often
found in municipal park settings.
Rockhounds have
known about this area for over 150 years, when the first discoveries of
gem-quality tourmaline were found there. Since then, the area has experienced a
great deal of mineral exploration, both commercial and amateur. Today amateurs
may still search the mine trails for apatite, turmaline, and quartz specimens
(special rules apply).
With assistance
from a land and water conservation fund matching grant, five kilometers (3.1
miles) of multi-purpose trails were constructed in the summer of 1994 within the
park to serve all outdoor enthusiasts. In
1997, it received two grants through the National Recreation Trails Act, which
are being used to improve existing signage and to add trails to the quarry area.
The park is open
from dawn until dusk year-round. In winter, the trail is groomed for
cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In
spring, summer, and fall, the trails are open to mountain bikers, runners,
hikers, and other non-motorized trail users. As with all municipal parks,
hunting is not allowed within park boundaries. Park brochures, which include a
trail map, park rules, and other park information, are available at the Auburn
Parks & Recreation Department office, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. -
5:00 p.m. P
Pettengill Park/Union Street Gully
Auburn Parks & Recreation
Department, Auburn, ME 04210
Peter Bushway • 207-784-0191
Pettengill Park, a
centrally located 40-acre urban park, has become the focal point for recreation
activities for thousands of Auburn residents. Facilities located within the
Pettengill Park area include: Hasty Community Center; a baseball field; a
lighted softball field; four tennis courts; two combination youth
football/soccer fields; two horseshoe pits; two jogging trails; three playground
areas; a concession building; a scenic fishing pond; and is home to the
Ingersoll Arena indoor ice facility. P
Pine Haven Winter Park
1971 Lisbon Road, Lewiston, ME
04240
John Letourneau • 207-783-4103
Located in
Lewiston, this winter playground offers affordable fun for everyone. Super
tubing, cross-country skiing and ice skating are available from morning until
evening. Tubers have two lifts, and there is a special tubing area designated
for ages 1 to 7. P $
Range Pond State Park
Empire Road, Poland, ME 04274
Gordeen Skolfield, Manager • 207-998-4104
Located on 750
acres, Range Pond is a day-use park, including a quarter mile of beach, nature
trails, group area, ball field, playground equipment, boat launch, and bathroom
and changing facilities. Lifeguards are on duty in the summer. P $
Samoset Resort
220 Warrenton Street, Rockport,
ME 04856
Susan MacMillan • 800-341-1650 • 207-584-0722
www.samoset.com
Host of the
prestigious 2002 PGA Junior Series Event, this picturesque ocean side course
offers a challenge to every level of player. While the front nine makes the most
of its seaside location, always keeping the ocean in view, the back nine weaves
leisurely through woods, ponds, and gardens and then delivers you again to the
sea. P $
Spare-Time Recreation
729 Main Street, Lewiston, ME
04240
Rod Cameron • 207-786-BOWL (2695) • www.sparetimerec.com
Spare-Time
Recreation specializes in fun for all ages. Family fun at the modern 34-lane
bowling center features automatic scoring and bumper systems to allow for fun
for your youngest too. Winner’s Circle off-track betting offers simulcasting
and wagering for the best in harness and thoroughbred racing from around the
world. Our latest addition is our new Porter’s Restaurant. Special coupons are
available for website visitors. G P $
Springbrook Golf Club
141 Route 202, Leeds, ME 04263
• Joe Golden • 207-946-5900
www.springbrookgolfclub.com
Springbrook,
a challenging 18-hole championship course, is open to the public. The course has
a reputation for being extremely well maintained, with greens that are
considered some of the best in Maine. The beauty of the course is enhanced by a
brook, which meanders through the middle of the course. Beautiful seasonal
wildflowers attract occupants for the 150-yard-marker birdhouses!
The
clubhouse and snack bar are housed in a uniquely converted rustic post-and-beam
barn, with seating for up to 250. Food served ranges from hot dogs and burgers
to on-premise catered banquets and barbecues. Beverages served include soft
drinks, beer, wine, and mixed drinks. P $
Stanton Bird Club
PO Box 3172, Lewiston, ME
04243-3172
Susan Hayward • 207-782-5238 • www.avcnet.org/stanton/
The
Stanton Bird Club is a local conservation organization serving Androscoggin
County. One of the oldest bird clubs in the country, it owns and manages three
sanctuaries - Thorncrag in Lewiston (310 acres), Woodbury in Monmouth (160
acres), and Applesass Hill in Lewiston (2 acres). All properties have trails and
are open to the public free of charge. The Club offers numerous opportunities
during the year for local and state field trips and monthly programs presented
(Nov. - May) on subjects of natural history interest. Membership information is
available. P
Taber’s
473 Lake Shore Drive, Auburn,
ME 04210
Richard Hargreaves • 207-784-2521
Taber’s offers a
unique recreational experience on the shore of Lake Auburn. Visitors can enjoy a
burger or sandwich and their favorite ice cream while playing miniature golf or
hitting golf balls at the driving range. P $
Taylor Pond Yacht Club
PO Box 1012, Auburn, ME
04211-1012
Peter Bunker • 207-783-8458 or 207-782-0106
Peter@shades.com
Taylor Pond Yacht
Club was founded in 1942 for family recreation. It is located on the west shore
of Taylor Pond in Auburn, a beautiful two-mile-long lake situated near Lost
Valley Ski Area and just minutes from downtown Auburn and Lewiston.
The club’s 40 acres has over 850 feet of shore frontage with a sandy
beach and pine tree shaded picnic area.
Members enjoy the
use of two clubhouses with a large, screened porch, two hard-surfaced tennis
courts, protected swimming area, dock, boat mooring area, ball field, and plenty
of parking.
Although Taylor
Pond Yacht Club is a private club, it offers tennis, sailing, swimming, and art
lessons that welcome the public. Qualified
paid instructors and their assistants design programs with an emphasis on safety
and fun. P $
Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary
Gates at corner of Highland
Spring Rd. & Montello St., and at the end of East Avenue Lewiston, ME 04240
Susan Hayward • 207-782-5238 • www.stantonbirdclub.org
Thorncrag
Bird Sanctuary, the largest bird sanctuary in New England, is a 310-acre
wildlife preserve located within the city limits of Lewiston.
It is owned and managed by Stanton Bird Club.
A half-mile hike to the top of the sanctuary is rewarded with a view, at
the highest point in the city, of Mt. Washington, NH.
The sanctuary is open to anyone from dawn to dusk for bird watching,
snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, picnicking, hiking, and many other
activities. Throughout the seasons, school groups can sign up for guided nature
walks on 11 different topics. Trail maps are available at the gate kiosks.
A fully illustrated interpretive guidebook to the sanctuary is available
for $1 at the Customer Service Desk of Hannaford on Sabattus Street in Lewiston. P
Turner Highlands Country Club
Box 775, North Parish Road, Turner,
ME 04282 • 207-224-7060
Ron Bileau
Turner Highlands
is an 18-hole course with beautiful views of surrounding mountains complete with
pro-shop, locker room with showers, and Eli’s Restaurant. Open to the public
with 9 and 18 hole rates. Reservations
are recommended. P $
YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston
62 Turner Street, Auburn, ME
04210
James Lawler • 207-795-4095 • www.alymca.com
Besides its
program opportunities in child care, youth sports, teen center programs, and day
camping, the YMCA has a complete fitness center including a swimming pool,
basketball gym, teen center, and cafe. The YMCA builds strong kids, strong
families, and strong communities. P $
YWCA of Central Maine
130 East Avenue, Lewiston, ME
04240
Jeanne McLaughlin • 207-795-4050 • ywcaofcm@aol.com
The
YWCA offers comprehensive aquatics (therapeutic and recreational), land-based
fitness equipment, aerobics R.E.A.L. FIT program for seniors, and body
sculpting. They also offer childcare and before/after school for infant through
12 years, adolescent counseling, teen parenting programs, family mediation
counseling, and financial literacy classes. Much more to come! Check them out! P
$